Spinal-adjustment device



Sept. 13, 1927. J. KUBISTA SPINAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE Filed Auz.16. 1926I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1 3, 1927.

J. KUBlSTA SPINAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 16. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR c$TTORNEY Patented Sept.- 13, 1927. a UNITED STATES JOSEPHKUBISTA, OI OWATONNA, MINNESOTA.

SPINAL-ADJUSTMENT DEVICE.

Application filed August 16, 1928. Serial No. 129,480.

My invention relates to a tension and manipulating device designedparticularly for treatment of defective spinal conditions.

The device will hereinafter be called a tension couch, for brevity,although its construction is such that a person having need of spinaltreatment can operate the device while lying on it, as the device notonly serves as a stretching means but also involves means operable alongthe spinal cord to correct displacement or other faulty conditions ofthe vertebrae, thus relieving and improving a patients physicalcondition as will hereinafter be described, and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top or plan View of myimproved tension couch.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with the stretching means extendedand a patient on the couch in position for treatment.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the main housing of the device withthe cover removed to reveal the mechanical construction, some partsoutside of the housing being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the main housing 10about as on line H in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional detail view about as at 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation in enlarged scale about as at line 6-6in Fig. 3 showing a portion of a vertebrae above the pounding ormassaging members of the device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the right hand wall of the housingincluding the hand operated stretching means for the lower limbs of thepatient.

Before referring to the drawing I will first explain that my device isdesigned to correct spinal conditions and attendant or resultingtroubles by a combination of spine stretching and spine adjusting means,the latter intended to be applied to the back at both sides of andlongitudinally of the spinal column.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 1O designates anysuitable type, preferably quadrangular, of elongated housing on top ofwhich is removably placed a cover 11 which may be padded (not shown).

The central part of cover .11 has an elonated opening 12 for certainmovable adusters designed to be applied to the back of a patient by thepatient himself.

The stretching means of my device comprises two parallel slidable bars13 and 13 arranged longitudinally within the housing and the former(13") projects out from the head end of the housing and 13 from the footend; the exposed ends carrying each a vertically disposed T-shapedremovable member 14. 15 are angular braces fixed to bars 13 and eachhaving a pocket at its upper end for slidable insertion of a member 14.16 is any suitable type of head harness connected by a strap 17 orsimilar means to the arms of'the T-shaped member 14 on bar 13, saidstrap 17 preferably passed under a horizontal transverse bar 18removably retained in upright brackets 19 fixed to the sides of the headend of the housing and extending above the cover 11. The object ofkeeping strap 17 under the bar 18 is to keep the patients head down onthe cover 11. 20 is a suitable type of leg engaging means connected bystraps 21 to the arms of the T- shaped bracket 14 of bar 13*.

22 are crutch devices adapted to engage the arm pits of the patient and23 is a transverse strap connecting the shanks 22 of the crutches, saidshanks at this point being horizontal and elevated above the cover 11and the strap therefore adapted to support the patients body as in asling, somewhat above the cover, as in Fig. 2. The shanks 22 areextended downwardly vertically from their horizontal parts said Verticalends adapted to be retained pivotally and removably in bearings 24 fixedto the inner side of the housing and below the cover, it beingunderstood that apertures are provided in the cover for the saidvertical shank parts to be assed through.

he head stretching rod 13 is oscillated by a crank 25 mounted on theshaft 26 of a cable winding drum 26 mounted transversely within andadjacent to the left wall of the housing. 27 is a cable wound on thedrum and extending thence to a pair of sheaves 28 suitably mounted as at29 adjacent the head end of the housing and thence extended forwardlyand connected at 30 to the inner end of bar 13. It is obvious that thepatient can turn the crank 25 with his left hand thus winding the cableonto drum 26 and causing slide 13 to move outwardly and pulling the headstrap 17 (see Fig. 3). 31 is a ratchet wheel on shaft 26 engaged by apawl 32 to hold the shaft and the slide 13 as desired.

Similar stretching means for slide 13 comprise a crank 33 on a shaft 34of a cable drum 34 at the right side of the patient and a cable 35passed over a pair of sheaves 36 at the foot end of the main housing andthence forward to and connected to the forward end of slide 13 as at 37in Flg. 4 (see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7). 38 1s a ratchet wheel on shaft 34engaged by a holding pawl 39 and a secondary hook pawl 40 depending fromlever 33 and adapted to engage the ratchet wheel when the lever 1sraised from its resting position on a suitable stop bracket 41. i J

The spine adjusting means of my device comprises a pair of transverselyspacedpads 42 of suitable soft material, each preferably roundedupwardly and toward the center (see Fig. 6) and fixed in a block or head43 of a vertical bar 44. 45 is a horizontally disposed slide bar onwhich bar 44 is movable longitudinally, the inner part of bar 44 beingguided vertically between two upright angle irons 46 the said two palrsof upright angles being clamped to a bar 47 arranged parallel to bars45.- The angle irons are secured in'position at both sides of bar 47 totwo horizontal bars 59 one above and one below bar 47 acting as guidesfor the longitudinally slidable'member composed of the angle irons andthe bars 59 and resembling a cross-head of an engine.

The slides 45 are oscillable vertically in guide brackets 49 suspendedfrom transverse cross bars 50 fixed to the sides of the main housing atits upper edge (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5). The top 11 may also rest on thesebars 50.

Near the foot end of the housing 10 is suitably j ournaled within thehousing, right and left transverse shafts 51 and 51 respectively andprotruding from the corresponding side walls, the protruding endscarrying each an upwardly directed hand lever 52. These hand levers aregrasped by the patient for reciprocating the adjustment pads 42vertically by the following means.

53 and 53 are respectively right and left transverse shafts mountedwithin housing 10 and near its head end. 54 are downwardly directedlevers fixed one each on shafts 51 and 51 and 55 are like levers oneeach on shafts 53 and 53 but directed upwardly, the free ends of eachpair of arms 54 and 55 being connected by a reach rod 56 preferablyhaving a turn-buckle or ad justment screw 57 for lengthening orshortening the reach rods as desired. The ends of each verticallyoscillable bar 45 have each a suitable shoe 45 exposed downwardly andeach frictionally engaged by a lifting cam arm 58 (see Fig. 4) fulcrumedon the adjacent shaft 51 or 53. Thus it will be readily understood thatwhen the patient oscillates the levers 52 shafts 51 51 53 and 53 areoscillated accordingly and the cam arms 58 will raise and lower theslide bars 45 and the memes adjustment pads 42 give an upward poundingeffect against the back of the patient A at both sides of the spinalcolumn (see Figs. 2 and 6). The upper parts ofthe angle iron guides 46,in which the padarms 44 are vertically reciprocable, are secured to alongitudinally arranged bar 59 by rivets 48 (as previously described) orlike means, the upper one of said bars 59 having apertures at its endsforfengagement of the ends of a cable 60. This cable extends forwardly(toward' the head end) within the housing and runs over a pair ofsheaves 62 suitably mounted as in a transverse bracket 63 near the headend of the housing, thence extends toward the center of the housingwhere it is wound and fixed upon a transversely mounted drum 64 in thehousing, the shaft 64 of said drum extending outside of the housing (seeFigs. 1, 2 and 3) and carrying there a suitable crank 65 and a cog wheel66 engaged selectively by either or both of two opposite ratchet pawls67. From drum 64 the cable 60 is extended toward the foot end of thehousing engaging a pair of sheaves 68 suitably mounted adjacent the saidend of the housing, the cable extending thence and afiixed at 60 to thefoot end of bar 59 (see Figs. 3 and 4). Thus cable 60 may be moved bythe patient manipulating the lever 65 until the adjustment pads arelocated at any part of the spine where adjustment by means'of the pads42 is desired. Then the adjusting process on the spinal column byvertical reciprocation of the pads 42 is proceeded with by the patientas previously described. It is obvious that the pads 42 may be broughtinto contact with the back of the patient with any amount of force hemay see fit to exert.

I am aware that stretching machines for chiropractic .treatment are notin themselves new. The braced posts 14 of my device are believed howeverto be new and more efficient and sturdy than any other correspond ingposts on such devices I have seen some of the latter having the end ofthe expanding bar as 13 of my device merely bent upwardly to form thepost 14. In my device this post is a separate piece and may readily bereplaced if bent or broken. The combination of the stretching means Ihave shown and described and the spine adjusting means all operable bythe patient and the latter having the feature of being applicable to anypart of the spine are believed to be new and undoubtedly more usefulthan any device of this class at present known to me.

What I claim is:

1. A tension couch of the class described comprising an elongatedhousing, a removable cover upon which a patient may lie, said coverhaving a longitudinal slot, extensible stretching means arrangedlongitudinally and projecting from both ends of the housing and adaptedto be connected to the head and feet of the patient, means operablelongitudinally and upwardly within the said slot of the cover forpounding and massaging the back of the patient, said stretching andmassaging means adapted to be me.- nipulated by means within reach ofthe patient, said massaging device comprising a pair of transverselyspaced upwardly directed pads each fixed on the upper part of avertically oscillable bar slidable in a block adjustably mounted on arail arranged longitudinally within the housing and means forlongitudinally adjusting said block on said rail and further means foroscillating said rails in vertical planes said latter means comprising apair of spaced transverse rock shafts journaled in the side walls of thehousing and projecting outwardly therefrom cams on said shafts engagingsaid rails and adapted to raise and lower the rails selectively, rockinglevers fixed on said shafts externally of the housing and in accessibleposition for manipulation by the patient.

2. A tension couch of the class described comprising an elongatedhousing, a removable cover upon which a patient may lie, said coverhaving a longitudinal slot, extensible stretching means arrangedlongitudinally and projecting from both ends of the housing and adaptedto be connected to the head and feet of the patient, means operablelongitudinally and upwardly within the said slot of the cover forpounding and massaging the back of the patient, said stretch ing andmassaging means adapted to be manipulated by means within reach of thepatient, said massaging device comprising a pair of transversely spacedupwardly directed pads each fixed on the upper part of a vertlcallyoscillatable bar slidable in a block adjustably oscillatably mounted ona rail arranged longitudinally within the housing and means forlongitudinally adjusting said block on said rail and further means foroscillating said rails in vertical parallel planes said latter means comrising a pair of spaced transverse rock sha ts journaled in the sidewalls of the housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, cams on saidshafts engaging said rails and adapted to raise and lower the railsselectively, rocking levers fixed on said shafts externally of thehousing and in accessible position for manipulation by the patient, saidmeans for oscillating the massaging pad blocks on the rails comprisin atransversely arranged drum mounted in the housing and a drum shafttherefor extending outwardly of the housing and a crank on said outerend in accessible position for operation by the patient, a cord or likeflexible element wound on said drum and extending forwardly and rear-Wardly therefrom toward the front and rear ends of the housingrespectively, sheaves mounted at said ends and said cable passed oversaid sheaves, thence toward and attached to one end of said block.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH KUBISTA.

